Fit To Print

Prostitution and Politics

March 13th, 2008

Well, it looks like Spitzer was a bit of an asshole, even without the whole prostitute thing, but sometimes it takes an asshole to get things done. David Paterson (who some of you may know as Butchie from The Wire) looks like a pretty progressive replacement, and Spitzer certainly stamped his own ticket out of Albany, but I can’t help but think we lost a tough as nails defender of good causes.

A lot of bloggers have been talking of how prostitution should be legalized, and I was working on a response to this. The only case for legalization that makes sense to me is the idea that it would make it a safer enterprise for the women involved. Nicholas Kristof pokes some ship-sinking holes into that theory in his column today. Basically, most prostitutes were both molested as a child, and forced into this line of work. Legalization in other countries has made pimping out minors easier, and doesn‘t address the fact that prostitution just isn‘t a desirable career choice for women with the mental wherewithal and economic opportunities to do something else. Read the piece.

I’ve also been wanting to do a follow-up post on the Clinton tactics this campaign, specifically with regards to Geraldine Ferraro. Josh Marshall basically said what I wanted to say.

A few more thoughts:

Sexism may be more prevalent than racism. But it’s a different animal. Hillary’s hate mail reads: “you’re a bitch”. Obama gets “Die nigger” letters. The presidency is way too important to be determined by who’s had to overcome greater prejudice and institutional obstacles to get to where they are. But if Clinton is going to bring it up, it’s certainly a pissing contest she’s bound to lose.

Hillary Clinton does not owe everything she has to her husband. But his political career has given her the national spotlight, name recognition and opportunity to run for U.S. Senator without first working her way up the ladder. She’s proven a remarkably adept politician, but she’s only been given the chance to prove herself because of who she married. I actually buy the idea that she has the best experience of what it’s like to be president since she was actively involved in Bill’s administration. But no one elected her to that role, she didn’t earn that right by decree of the voters.

I’m glad Hillary has worked so hard for the public good, and I’m glad she is a Senator. But it is beyond delusional for an affluent white woman to continually play the role of martyr and insinuate that this upstart black man hasn’t paid his dues and couldn’t hoe a tough row if he had a whip at his back.

Entry Filed under: Politics